A Full Tithe

Dearest Family:

All is well. But please don't stop praying for me. Through struggle and discouragement I have found that your words in prayer have fully upheld me. As we near General Conference weekend, I've considered a bit the significance of what has transpired this past year. 12 months ago I would have never considered that I'd be anywhere so distant as I am now. Miracles happen. And they always will.

The motivation for the title today has somewhat to do with the monumental announcement made almost 365 days ago. Of course we all know what happened. But as of late I've considered its significance from an alternate perspective. My companion and I taught the law of tithing to one of our investigators this week. It was my first chance to teach such a principle. And it clicked that my mission is a full tithe. By the time I return home, exactly 10% of my life will have been devoted to the Lord. And mathematically this is only possible since the change of missionary age last October. 10%. No less. All to the selfless cause of God's work and glory.

So with that in mind, give thought to the meager one-of-ten that God seeks of young boys. It is no easy task. Neither was it intended to be. But how great is the sacrifice made possible as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is the most noble of causes upon the earth. It's authority is above that of kings and presidents. It's influence more penetrative that any other power known to man. And I get to be a fraction of this great force.

So for those of you who are nearing the age of the draft, are you ready to suit up and fight for the cause of righteousness? Are you humble enough to pay a full tithe? 

I love you, and as your representative in this marvelous work I plead for the cause of happily-ever-after as God intended it to be. You are in my prayers. I love you. I love you enough to be away for the next 21 months. And one day I'll give you a big hug.

Love,

Elder Benson Ryan Gunther

In a local supermarket

More Macedonia

Alexander the Great- A Macedonian Hero

In the Macedonian Elders' Apartment

An exchange in Macedonia

Our Branch in Prishtina, Kosovo

A sight to see in the the town center, giving thanks to the nations that brought Kosovo freedom

Mama's boy

Dearest Family:

You don't realize how much you love your mom until you're half-way across the world with no one to hug. No one to kiss you good night. No one to wipe away your tears of disappointment. And every time she pops into your mind you wish you could see her for even a second. That's what it's like for me right now.

And then you remember there's only 21 short months left. Then you can hug and kiss your mom all you want. Then there's no distance to separate you again. And you smile. Offer a prayer of thanks that you're blessed with the world's greatest woman to call Mother. Pick yourself up. Realize the Priesthood's uniting power of sons and mothers everywhere for eternity. Open your mouth to share the message of forever families. 

Homesickness is a funny thing. It's really a longing for Mom that even the strongest of missionaries can't hide from. I didn't ever think myself to be the type. But here it is. 

Kosovo is a place where most people wouldn't imagine that sons and mothers can be together forever. I am saddened by the solemn looks about their face. If they only knew, how happy they'd be! So that's why I'm here. So that sadness can be chased away by the unbreakable bond of Mother and Son, Family forever. 

So Heidi Elisabeth, my dearest Mother, this one's for you. Your son is 5,000 miles away, missing you like crazy, so that boys and their moms can be like us, inseparable for eternity. 

I can hardly wait for the Salt Lake City Airport in July 2015. I'm such a mama's boy. I am going to run to her first. Give her the biggest hug. Tell her that I'll love her forever. 

Until we meet someday, dearest family, may God be with you. May he embrace you in the love of his gospel. You are truly my greatest happiness.

Love,

Benson 

Just eating some Kosovo traditional food. I think it's called a Dyner?

Elder Tanner and I outside our apartment building. 

Our fabulous apartment- in the living room.

Our bathroom complete with an actual shower with actually warm water.

The humble abode of our bedroom.

The roads of Prishtina and some bakery food.

This is Kosovo. This is my home until at least January.

The Roller Coaster Ride of a Mission

Dearest Family:

The Church is true. I think I've said those four words over and over in my head this week to save me from apostasy. Okay, maybe it's not that extreme. But the oppression I receive as a missionary is unprecedented. From a half credible statistic that I've heard quite often a time, the population of Kosovo is upwards of 97% Muslim. I don't doubt that figure one bit. But certainly don't cite me on it.

This has been the biggest concern weighing on my work this past week. The work in Kosovo is probably some of the hardest in the world. People here are rooted with their gaze toward Mecca. They deny any possibility that Jesus was the Christ, the Begotten Son of God. Any alleged interest people exert towards our faith or role as missionaries is feigned with the intent of contention. On the boulevard, the kind minority calmly walks away with a polite, "I'm not interested" while the rest yell and argue for Muhammed, Allah, and their beloved Quran. I try to reflect love notwithstanding their traditions or beliefs. And I sincerely try to express my acceptance for Muslims. But their assumptions tell them otherwise.

Please excuse the drama with which I amplified my description. The people really are quite considerate. There exist only those few who you fear for your life. But ultimately I'm on Christ's team, and the trending disbelief of his nature has no power to change that. I couldn't feel more proud to wear the name of Christ than after a one sided hate fest that ends in greater love and concern on my side and furthered fire on the reverse.

In less intense, less disappointing news, I am in an active war zone. That was quite the oxymoron, wasn't it? Fear not, the war is raging between the Kosovars and the Serbs far in the north. I am in worriless safety, especially considering the love that Kosovars have for Americans. Mom, I am fine. If you are worried, you can contact President Ford, and he will reaffirm this.

Work as a missionary is always exhausting, always rewarding, always eternal. That's why I do it. I wouldn't have it anyother way.

By way of word to those who plan to serve missions, I have a piece of counsel. Before you leave you had better figure out why you are going and what to expect. I say this because every day thus far I've been tempted to quit. Surrender. Give up. Go home. But that doesn't go without saying that the spirit has an unimaginable presence that pierces my heart and convinces me that I am a member of the greatest service that can be rendered.

I wish you could see the unstoppable smile on my face. In the face of doubt, discouragement, and endless disbelief, I am happier than most would think possible. I'm proud to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. For that I will not apologize.

I love you all so very much. And I mean it. Though you are far, you are ever in my heart. I pray for you by name. It's only a short eternity until we meet again.

Love,

Your Brother, Son, Cousin, Nephew, Granchild, Friend, and otherwise Comrade in Christ, Elder Benson Ryan Gunther.

PS: As a side note, excuse the assumptious and otherwise pessimistic tone I adopted in this week's letter. It's really much safer, happier, and more relaxed than I played it as being.

Prishtina Elders lunching. That's how we do.

Prishtina Boulevard on a typical night.

Elder Gunther and one of very few members in Kosovo. His name is Besim. In the Church building.

P-day today we did some spelunking. All within mission standards, of course.

My trainer, Elder Tanner, and Myself in the caves. 

We had a light snack after our trip to the caves.And you thought Costco Pizza was big?

My journey EAST... Albania...then Kosovo

LAST VIEW OF MY HOME SWEET HOME. 10,000 FEET ABOVE. 

FINAL GOODBYES WITH FORMER COMPANION, ELDER RICHARDS. PROPS TO THAT MAN. HE IS A STELLAR MISSIONARY.

ICH BIN EIN BERLINER. OOPS. I STOPPED IN MUNCHEN. SCRATCH THAT.

OF COURSE I BOUGHT SOME RITTER SPORT IN ITS HOMELAND.

DEAR FAMILY:

TO BEGIN, EXCUSE THE ALL CAPS. I'M IN SOME GHETTO INTERNET CAFE IN KOSOVO, AND HAVE NO CLUE HOW TO DISABLE THE FUNCTION. AND SECOND, YES, I DID SAY KOSOVO. I WAS THE ONE MISSIONARY OF FOURTEEN WHO WAS FAVORED FROM ABOVE AND ASSIGNED TO THE CAPITAL OF KOSOVO, PRISHTINA. IT IS INCREDIBLE HERE. THE PEOPLE ARE NUMBER ONE. THE CITY IS NUMBER ONE. THE FOOD IS NUMBER ONE. THE LANGUAGE IS CERTAINLY NOT NUMBER ONE. 

THE KOSOVAR DIALECT IS ESSENTIALLY A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE. LITERALLY. 'IT AIN'T THE LANGUAGE THEY TAUGHT ME IN THE MTC!' AND I CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY THAT. ALBANIAN CONSISTS OF TWO BRANCHES OF LANGUAGE, AND THEY ARE FAR DISTANT FROM ONE ANOTHER. REALLY SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT. SO I AM RELEARNING EVERY GRAMMAR PRINCIPLE AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE THAT I WAS TAUGHT IN THE MTC. IT'S CALLED GHEG. AND IT'S WHAT THEY USE IN THE NORTH HERE IN KOSOVO. YIKES. I WILL UNDOUBTEDLY NEED THE AID OF THE GIFT OF TONGUES. IT'S QUITE COMICAL, REALLY: ALL THE PEOPLE HERE UNDERSTAND THE BRANCH OF ALBANIAN THAT I KNOW, THOSK, SO THEY UNDERSTAND EVERY WORD I SAY. BUT THEN THEY SAY SOMETHING BACK IN THEIR THICK NORTHERN INSANITY, AND I STARE BLANKLY BACK. EDHE NJE HERA? (ONE MORE TIME?- PROBABLY THREE OF FOUR TIMES)

WELL, I TRAVELED IN SAFETY ALL THE WAY FROM PROVO. I HAD THE CHANCE TO TOUCH DOWN IN GERMANY FOR A QUICK LAYOVER AND WAS REFRESHED THAT FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL GERMAN HAS ABANDONED MY MIND. I'VE GOT QUITE A FEW FUNNY STORIES THAT DESERVE SHARING, BUT WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE MISSION.

THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK TO BE COMPARABLE WITH MY EXPERIENCE AS 'FRINGO FARE' (NEW MISSIONARY) IS SOME DREAM I HAD SOMETIME AGO ABOUT FLYING ALLIGATORS AND PINK BEARS. IT'S QUITE DUMBFOUNDING, AND IN THE END I'M IN THE SAME BOAT AS EVERY OTHER MISSIONARY TO SERVE.

WELL, DEAREST FAMILY, LIFE IS WELL IN KOSOVO. I'M LIKE AN 8 YEAR OLD AT OXFORD. FOR NOW, MY BEST EFFORTS COLLECT TO HALF SMILES AND SHY WAVES. I REALLY AM TRYING AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF JESUS CHRIST. I'M DOING MY BEST. BUT MY BEST ISN'T A WHOLE LOT. I'M GLAD THAT GOD DOESN'T EXPECT A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

 I could already write a biography of what's happened here. I have so many funny stories that I'll share when the time comes, or when I have the time.

Well, dearest family, a great work is afoot. And I have the chance to be a part of it. Even now as a missionary I can tell the missionaries that got ready before their missions and the ones who didn't. It's time to start getting ready. Read your scriptures every day. Love eachother. Learn to be friends and talk with people. I'm sure glad that I did these things.

I LOVE YOU AS MUCH AS I LOVE MY KOSOVAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. A LOT. 10 WONDERFUL WEEKS DOWN. THAT'S NEARING 10 PERCENT.

LOVE,

YOUR KOSOVAR REPRESENTATIVE, ELDER BENSON RYAN GUNTHER

OUR GROUP OF 14 OVERLOOKING TIRANA.

THE TYPICAL TIRANA SCENE: IT REALLY IS THE MEXICO OF EUROPE, IN TERMS OF SOCIAL CLASS.

FIRST SIGHTS: TIRANA, ALBANIA.

LIKELY THE WORLDS SMALLEST COMMERCIAL AIRPORT. TIRANA INTERNATIONAL. CAPITOL OF ALBANIA.

PRISHTINA, CAPITOL OF KOSOVO, AS SEEN FROM MY BACK PORCH. HOW GORGEOUS IS THAT, RIGHT? THAT'S MY VIEW UNTIL AT LEAST JANUARY, NEXT TRANSFER.

SAME SCENCE. DIFFERENT CAMERA FUNCTION- PANORAMA. EXCUSE THE QUALITY IF IT SEEMS A BIT FUZZY.

THE EQUIVALENT OF THE SACRED GROVE IN KOSOVO.

ME AND MY 'DAD' (MY TRAINER)- ELDER TANNER. HE AND I ARE VERY MUCH ALIKE- BOTH AVID RUNNERS AND STUDENTS OF SCIENCE. WE ACTUALLY DID AN 8 MILER THIS MORNING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS OF KOSOVO.
TODAY MARKS TWO YEARS SINCE KOSOVO HAS BEEN OPENED FOR MISSIONARY WORK. WE VISITED THE DEDICATORY SIGHT (AS PICTURED IN THE BACKGROUND) AND READ ELDER RUSSELL M. NELSON'S DEDICATORY PRAYER.

                         OVERLOOKING PRISHTINA ON P-DAY.

OF ALL THE NATIONS UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, I HAVE THE CHANCE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH ONE THAT NEEDS IT MOST. DESOLATED BY WAR, DENIED FREEDOM, AND SUPPRESSED BY EVIL, THERE COULD BE NO OTHER PEOPLE MORE IN NEED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE SERBIA-KOSOVO WAR LEFT BEHIND THOUSANDS OF UN-DETONATED LAND MINES. SO SOME TIMES I'VE GOT TO WATCH MY STEP. 

WATCH OUT KOSOVO. HIGH VOLTAGE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. Gospel plus Spirit hints something significant coming your way.

Flight Scheduled for Albania!

The Official Flight Schedule: SLC, Washington DC, Munich Germany, Tirana Albania. Leaving Tuesday morning for the Airport @ 4:30. Flight leaves 8:30. I'll be in the sky for a little over 18 hours.

Well, Albania, though 5,000 miles away, is no farther than just around the corner. 9 weeks has passed awfully quickly. Whoever made the statement "Time flies when you're having fun" must not have understood the life of a Mormon missionary. Because time F.L.I.E.S. when you are serving the Lord full-time. Even that is an understatement. 

In other news, I finished my consecration week today. Straight Albanian 7 days in a row. It was probably the most helpful catalyst in my learning of the language. I'm still far from comfortable in speaking or carrying out conversation, but let me tell you, it is coming FAST.

Well, I love you more than my time, which is about to expire, presently allows me to tell you. I wish you only the best of success in school and whatever pursuits you may choose. T minus 22 months and counting.

Love,

Elder Benson Ryan Gunther

 Evening snacks make for good naps.

          Probably the worlds most holy leaf-bug. It's on the Lord's campus.

The concluding picture of companions Elder Braden Richards and Elder Benson Gunther. Props to Elder Richards. He is a first-rate missionary.

   Another picture with me pointing at a map. I know it's cliche, but it's just what's got to be done when you're a missionary. 'Nuf said.

 Us and the bus. The preferred (only) mode of transportation at the MTC.

   I love to see the Temple. But I'd love even more to see a Temple in Albania. 

Missionary Moments

The last of the awkward pictures with my dearest cousin, Sisar Schellenberg. She happens to be in a land far distant presently. Namely, Finland. She and I had a great comradry at the MTC West Campus. Notwithstanding that we couldn't do more than a handshake, it was fantastic to see her as often as I did. We were even in the same zone, and had lunch together on many such occasions.

It would be sinful to ignore the picture by the 'big map'. It's sooo cliche, but it was something needing to be done. Likewise, we made the trip to main campus for a photo. Yep. That happenend.

Tuesday night devotionals at the Marriott Center are unmatched. First, we walk about 1 mile to the Marriott Center from Wyview. Next we sing in the MTC choir, consisting of about 1,500 missionaries from everywhere, going everywhere. Then, some incredible speaker addresses us. And finally, the American Fork High School alumni meet at Portal C to mix, mingle, and linger longer.

This week's random landscape-filler-picture consists of a full moon. And that's about the entirety of it.

Vellai Eckel is (was) one of our language instructors. He took leave to resume school in his pursuits of Optometry during the fall semester. He is seriously the greatest teacher of Albanian on the face of the planet. So we were most blessed to have him for 7 of the 9 weeks here. I hear that we'll be having a native Albanian replace him for the last few days. We'll see how that goes...

Day Elder and myself got to host missionaries this week. It was pretty exciting, if I do say so myself. It was an ocean of 'dork-dots' (orange stickers indicating first day fresh missionary status) that swarmed the West Campus. We walked them to their apartments, dropped luggage, and threw them without hesitation into language instruction. Kind of neat to be a part of a missionary's first day.

You've Got a Friend in Agim

My head hurts.  Albanian is tough!

Dear Family,

Unless I mention otherwise, just assume I´m doing well. In my letters home, I´ll try my best to skip the muha-betë (small-talk), because quite frankly, it's very routine and mostly uninteresting to write. So when I jump to whatever my weekly subject is, don't worry: I'm alive and the church is still true.

As a highlight of my week, I made contact with my first Albanian, or rather he made contact with me. His name is Agim, and he happened to come across my blog. He is a member from Albania who's presently on vacation in Florida, and he sent me a letter on Monday. It was probably the funniest thing I've ever read: He begins by addressing me, "I dashurplaku Gunther", which equates to "My dearest old man." Then he proceeds to tell me what his story is and how he found me. Next, he tells me his impression of me, which translates to "You seem to be learning the Albanian language well, but you appear to me to be prideful." Yep. That's an Albanian for you. They speak their mind, 100% honest and straightforward to even strangers. Well, the letter was written entirely in Albanian, which includes the absence of punctuation. And he must have been from the North, either Tirana or Shkoder, because it's part of the northern dialect to drop the second half of most words. So I had an Elder Calhoun moment as I read it aloud, "Elder, what language was he speaking? . . . 'Cause that ain't the language they taught me in the MTC." My language instructors mention at least once daily that if I happen to serve in the North, I'll be speaking, comparatively, the New Orleans rendition of English. And to finish, Agim expressed his individualistic love for me. Well, from this I drew an extraordinary enthusiasm to serve the people of Albania. 3 weeks couldn't be further away.

As another note, Richard G. Scott addressed us at Tuesday night's devotional. It was beyond awesome. He is beyond awesome. This gospel is beyond awesome.

On Thursdays, in 45 minutes, actually, we do what's called the TRC (teaching resource center). Basically what happens is you go and teach members who aren't playing a role, but just being themselves as members. And the entire 40 minute lesson is in Albanian. It is much more difficult than teaching pretend investigators, because you've got to change your approach and vocabulary for individuals who know gospel principles already. So I'm stoked. But mostly afraid. And I'm hoping to see Albert Behling, because he promised to visit the TRC while I was here, but I haven't seen him yet. So we'll see how things play out. And also, I really just want to serve in Shkoder or Kosovo. That was totally unrelated. But I had to get it out there. I'm a fan of the northern Gheg dialect. So if you would, pray that I get sent to where God needs me most. Because the areas in Albania are so diverse. And I have preferences already.

Well, missionary work thus far has proven to be the epitome of boring and the climax of happiness. 16 hours of daily exhaustion would only ever be satisfactory if this gospel were true. And it is true. Jesus Christ is the Savior. Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet. God is the Father. Missionary service is the grandest adventure. And 'happily-ever-after' is more than a fictitious finale to a fairytale.

I. Love. You.

Elder Benson Ryan Gunther

Shqiperia (Albania) - It literally translates to "Land of the Eagle People".

Thanks for the Reese's Puffs.  I thoroughly enjoyed them

That there is one nice leaf

The Hope of the Adriatic States ( Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia)

Me and Shoku im (my companion) Tuesday Night Devotional.

Weekly Sunset Picture - Sunsets are great as a missionary.

Thanks Elder Day.  You caught me at the peak of my best smiles ever.